How to Buy a Safe Stroller

Look for These Stroller Safety Features & Take the Following Precautions:

If you use bumpers in your stroller, or if you string toys across it, fasten them securely so they can’t fall on top of the baby. Remove such toys as soon as the baby can sit or get on all fours.

Strollers should have brakes that are easy to operate. Use the brake whenever you are stopped, and be sure your child can’t reach the release lever. A brake that locks two wheels provides an extra measure of safety.

Select a stroller with a wide base, so it won’t tip over.

Children’s fingers can become caught in the hinges that fold the stroller, so keep your child at a safe distance when you open and close it. Make sure the stroller is securely locked open before putting your child in it. Check that your baby’s fingers cannot reach the stroller wheels.

Don’t hang bags or other items from the handles of your stroller—they can make it tip backward. If the stroller has a basket for carrying things, be sure it is placed low and near the rear wheels.

The stroller should have a seat belt and harness, and it should be used whenever your child goes for a ride. For infants, use rolled-up baby blankets as bumpers on either side of the seat.

Never leave your child unattended.

If you purchase a side-by-side twin stroller, be sure the footrest extends all the way across both sitting areas. A child’s foot can become trapped between separate footrests.

There are also strollers that allow an older child to sit or stand in the rear. Be mindful of weight guidelines and especially careful that the child in the back doesn’t become overly active and tip the stroller.

New Stroller Safety Standards from CPSC:

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has approved new federal mandatory safety standards for carriages and strollers. The new standard addresses stroller head entrapment, broken wheels, parking brake failures, locking mechanism problems, restraint issues such as a child unbuckling the restraint and restraint breakage or detachment, and hinge issues such as pinching and amputations. CPSC has received about 1,300 incident reports related to strollers reported from January 1, 2008 through June 30, 2013. Four of those incidents involved a fatality. The new standard will take effect in September 2015. Learn more about the new standard on the CPSC Web site.

The information contained on this Web site should not be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your pediatrician. There may be variations in treatment that your pediatrician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.